Meaning & readings

run

On’yomi ソウ
Kun’yomi はし.る
Nanori はしり

Origin

This character combines the idea of movement with earth or ground. The bottom component suggests legs or the act of moving quickly, while the top element relates to the ground or physical space. Together, these parts create an image of someone moving their legs rapidly across the earth—which is the essence of running. The visual structure captures both the physical action and the setting where it happens.

AI-generated (claude-haiku-4-5), not yet reviewed. Formation type (automated guess): Compound ideographic (combined meanings).

7 strokes

Components

  • meaning part top
  • meaning part bottom

Common words

  • 滑走 かっそう gliding; sliding
  • 完走 かんそう finishing (a race); running the whole distance
  • 競走 きょうそう race; run
  • 疾走 しっそう sprint; dash
  • 走り はしり running
  • 走る はしる to run
  • 走行 そうこう running (of a car, bus, etc.); traveling
  • 走者 そうしゃ runner

Reference

Strokes
7
Kangxi radical
156
Grade
Grade 2 (Kyōiku)
Frequency rank
#626 (newspapers)
Former JLPT
level 3
Unicode
U+08D70